Thursday, September 30, 2010

By C. Jaishankar | The Hindu.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Officers of the Indian Navy on Wednesday held talks with Sri Lankan Navy personnel on the reported attacks on Indian fishermen, and discussed ways to avoid such incidents.

The talks were held on board the INS Kukri, an offshore patrol vessel, at the International Maritime Boundary Line near Point Calimere.

On board INS Kukri

Commodore Rajiv Girotra, Naval Officer In-Charge, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, who led the Indian Navy delegation, told The Hindu that the Indian Navy had brought to the notice of the Sri Lankan Navy reports of incidents allegedly involving the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian fishermen.

Besides Commodore Rajiv Girotra, the Indian team included Deputy Inspector General Y.K. Singh, Chief of Staff, Operations, Coast Guard, Eastern Region and six others.

The Sri Lankan side was represented by a 7-member delegation.

While the Indian delegation, which flew from the INS Parundu, a naval air station at Uchipuli, landed on the INS Kukri in a helicopter, the Sri Lankan delegation reached IMBL by a ship of the Sri Lankan Navy.

Besides the attacks on the fishermen, a number of issues, including the post-war scenario, security challenges along the International Maritime Boundary Line and poaching by fishermen of both countries were discussed at the mid-sea meeting.

Asked about the outcome of the talks, Commodore Girotra said the Sri Lankan Navy, which knew of the issues concerning the Indian fishermen, particularly those from Tamil Nadu, promised to address them.

According to him, there would not be any further incidents of harm to the fishermen.

It was important for the Indian Navy to ensure safety and security of the fishermen. It would extend cooperation in many areas.

Mr. Girotra added that there was adequate mechanism for patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line.

The Indian Navy and other agencies would intensify patrolling wherever it was required.

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